The Washington County Sheriff’s Office takes a new approach to the County litter control efforts. With the acquisition of six new buses for the Community Services Division, a new logo and design was unveiled for the buses.

According to Sheriff Ed Graybeal, “We are excited about the new logo’s and litter awareness messages that are now displayed on our Community Services buses. This new logo promotes the “Stop Litter” campaign and lists our Litter Hotline number. You could actually say that this is a “rolling billboard” to bring attention to the litter problem here in Washington County.”

The buses were acquired from the Washington County Department of Education’s surplus sale. The painting and detail work was completed by inmates assigned to the Community Services programs. The graphics for the buses was completed by Foster Signs in Jonesborough. The cost for the supplies for this project was paid for through Litter Grant funds received by the County.

Sheriff Graybeal added, “Last year we did a six-month survey that indicated that every 1.2 minutes someone in Washington County is littering. Hopefully, through this approach, maybe someone will think twice before throwing something out the car window, dumping something along the roadway or just simply not being responsible enough to dispose of the items properly.”

During the last five years, litter crews have removed 3,147,544 pounds of litter, tires and other discarded items from roadways and illegal dumpsites in Washington County, Tennessee.

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According to Sheriff Ed Graybeal, Joseph Lynn Malone, 45, 1105 Afton Street, Johnson City, TN was being housed in the Washington County Detention Center on an Attachment for Contempt related to child support from Johnson City Juvenile Court. He was court ordered to the work release program and was in the process of seeking employment.

Malone is described as an African American male, 5’8”, 135 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone having information related to this incident is asked to contact the Washington County (TN) Sheriff’s Office at 423-461-1414.

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According to Sheriff Ed Graybeal, yesterday afternoon at approximately 7:30 pm officers responded to a shooting call at 262 Spice Hollow Rd. Lot #3, Johnson City, Tn. Upon arrival officers came into contact with the victim who stated that he was sitting on the hood of his car when a white Mazda vehicle drove by and stopped. The passenger fired one round from an unknown handgun striking the victim in the right thigh.

The victim who is Jon Vazquez 26, 262 Spice Hollow Rd. Lot # 3, Johnson City, Tn. was transported to the Johnson City Medical Center where he was treated and released.

Officers are currently looking for Steven Thomas Kotsonis for questioning in reference to this incident.

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According to Sheriff Ed Graybeal, Officers and Investigators responded to a call of an armed robbery at 231 Rauhof Road, Telford. Upon arrival officers began to write a report for the victim who had a bloody nose and had been sprayed with mace.

Investigators began processing the scene and observed a number of indicators of drug distribution throughout the home. A search was completed on the home and investigators recovered over a ¼ pound of Marijuana prepackaged for resale, over 900 diverted prescription pills of various types including Oxycontin/ Morphine Sulfate, Lortabs, Percocets, Somas, Xanax, and Methadone. Investigators recovered digital scales, baggies, drug ledgers with customer’s names and telephone numbers, and over $1000 cash.

The names of the persons involved are being withheld at this time pending the results of the investigation. The Investigation is ongoing with charges of maintaining a Dwelling where controlled substances are used and sold, Possession of Schedule II, III, IV, and VI for Resale, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Conspiracy to distribute Schedules II, III, IV, and VI pending.

Officers have already recovered some of the property for the home invasion victim. Investigators have several leads concerning the identity of the offender of the home invasion.

Investigators do not think this is a random home invasion.

 

 

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